Britain urged to lift Ethiopia aid ban

Britain urged to lift Ethiopia aid ban

Britain should lift the suspension of new aid to Ethiopia, and other nations should continue to support the government despite disputed elections and political violence that has left 42 people dead, a UN envoy said today.

Martti Ahtisaari, special envoy for the humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa, said as many as eight million people in Ethiopia will depend on foreign aid this year for survival.

Britain suspended STG£20 million after Ethiopian police opened fire on protesters demonstrating against suspected poll rigging. On Thursday, EU election observers said the May 15 general elections in Ethiopia did not meet international standards.

Ethiopian officials have insisted that the elections were free and fair.

The vote was seen as a key test of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's commitment to democratic reform in Ethiopia. Meles also serves on Prime Minister Tony Blair's Commission for Africa, and had been seen as a leader of reform efforts in Africa.

Ahtisaari, a former Finnish president, said the effort to help the poorest people in Ethiopia should be a separate matter from the elections.

I hope the negotiations continue,'' he said of Ethiopia's talks with Britain. Whatever has happened, humanitarian assistance should never be politicised. All those that are in need should be helped.''

Ahtisaari spent eight days in Eritrea and Ethiopia, where more than 10 million people require food aid. In Eritrea, food insecurity has left more than two thirds of the country's four million people dependent on outside help.

In Ethiopia, a $200 million a year pilot scheme has been launched to try and end chronic hunger and dependency among more than one in ten of the nation's 71 million people.

Each year, foreign nations inject $1.9 billion into Ethiopia in food and development aid, but the country remains among the poorest in the world.


Source: http://www.unison.ie 13:40 Sunday August 28th 2005


Comment: My only comment is on the last paragraph: Ethiopia receives $1.9 billion annually for food and development aid. Why do we have 10 - 14 million each year suffering from hunger. Why are they pouring money in if the government doesn't have adequate plans to feed its own people with the help that it is receiving from donors. Why are not the donors asking these questions? You know another fact- in countries like Ethiopia any aid help that comes for the hungry and the poor - governments claim they are feeding and housing the people and the recipients also are made to believe that their government is doing everything it can to feed them. In reality, it is the donors that are feeding the people and not the governments. They create dependency for control of the population and they ask the poor to support them in maintaining power. Another way that governments control people is by maintaining land ownesrhip. The government of Ethiopia owns all land and allocates it to farmers based on patronage and dolling favors for support from the people when the government needs it. Donors are aware of that as well. But, what are they doing about it? Reasonable people should ask and if they do not get reasonable answers they should investigate and act to make sure the aid is going to the people that need it the most and not to carry favors for the government's objectives. Kebede

Corruption in Africa: Western Banks Share Blame for Africa's Poverty

Dear Readers: I have been arguing on the side of the fact that we cannot continue to do business in Africa the way we have been doing over the last 40 years. This article on allafrica.com crystallizes the reason why more than anything else that I can write. It is a well written article full of facts and figures that will substantiate what I have been saying so far. It names names, gives dates and amounts of money mis-apropriated by the so called leaders of African countries. It also lays the blame on the door steps of western donors and governments, that look the other way when crimes are committed by their partners in African countries while at the same time their banks are benefiting form the inflow of capital that has been illegally, criminally being taken from the mouths of the poor in their countries.

Please read on by clicking the link above and suffer the concequesnces, more frustration, more headaches and more sleepless nights.

Who helped Zuma...

Here is one of the latest - unfolding before our eyes, corruption investigation in South Africa.

The story is former deputy president Jacob Zuma, has been accused of corruption. "Mr. Zuma will go on trial in October on two charges of corruption which emanated from the fraud and corruption conviction of his former financial adviser Schabir Shaik". So goes the report from South Africa's News 24. Please go to the link above and read he whole article. I can assure you there will be more on this one. kebede

African migration - Home, sweet home—for some

Here is a very timely article about the brain drain- a major problem, that plagues Africa more than any other region of the world. The article talks about efforts being made to reverse the trend by enticing Africans in the Diaspora to come back to their homeland. It is a worth while effort, but in my mind it does not deal with the root causes of the problem, lack of opportunities in education, lack of basic freedom, lack of basic necessities, low pay, corruption and mismanagement of resources, lack of rule of law and fairness, injustice, discrimination, ethnic or tribal governance that restricts movement from one region to another, authoritarian governments, etc.... Please click the link above and read the whole article.- Kebede

African migration Home, sweet home-for some
Aug11th 2005, From The Economist print edition

Principles To Combat Corruption In African Countries

We, Ministers and representatives of Government, the list of which is annexed hereto, having met under the auspices of the Global Coalition for Africa in Washington DC on February 23, 1999, .... So goes the statement from the Ministers and Government representatives that drew a 25 point code or principles. The irony of it is, I did not see this document and had not done any research on corruption in Africa other than what I read regularly in the news and my own experience and intuition in how things are done in developing countries. I would like others to make comments about the similarity or differences between these principles and COESA. I am just a layman, an African frustrated by the events in the continent and I was just pouring my heart out to anyone that can listen and read. As they say, "all roads lead to Rome"; I just want to see some teeth and "tough love" not only in eliminating corruption but in promoting democracy and the rule of law, which I thinks are pre-conditions to economic growth and development. Please click on the link above and read the Principles.

“Corruption Threatens Democracy”

“Corruption Threatens Democracy”

Document Actions

Corruption “threatens democracy, economic growth and the rule of law.” This is a central assertion of the Final Declaration of the IV Global Forum on Fighting Corruption approved Friday. The five-day event gathered representatives from international organizations, NGOs and government from 103 countries in Brasilia to discuss measures for fighting corruption around the world.

The document defines corruption as “a complex economic, political and social problem.” The nearly 1,800 participants reaffirmed their “commitment to the effective implementation of the international anticorruption conventions” and recognized the importance of signing and the ratifying the UN Convention against Corruption. Brazil is among the first countries to sign and ratify the Convention.

The final declaration of the IV Global Forum on Fighting Corruption urges governments to “deny safe haven to corrupt persons and entities – public or private – and their corruptly acquired assets, and to those that corrupt them.”
“The Forum has become the principal vehicle for all peoples in the struggle for dignity and against corruption,” said Minister Waldir Pires. “Brazil is prepared to support and strengthen all of the international conventions,” added.

The Minister of Public Service and Administration of South Africa, Geraldine Moleketi, announced that her country accepted the recommendation put forth by the international delegations that her country organize the 5th edition of the Global Forum, in 2007.

Civil Society

The distinguishing feature of the IV Global Forum on Fighting Corruption was the participation of civil society representatives the workshop and panel sessions. Participants applauded the Brazilian government’s decision to invite non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and academics. The event gathered almost 1,800 participants from 103 countries.

At the Forum’s closing ceremony, the Minister of Public Service and Administration of South Africa, Geraldine Moleketi, stressed that the involvement of different segments of society in the discussions will ensure faster adoption of anticorruption measures. She went on to praise the Public Lottery Oversight Program established by Brazil’s Office of Comptroller General. “The Brazilian government is not merely adopting punitive measures, but is also vigorously pursuing preventive actions,” she stated.

The Director of Global Governance at the World Bank (IBRD), Daniel Kaufmann, spoke of Brazil’s organizational capabilities in expanding the Forum beyond official government agencies and representatives. The first three editions included only government entities. “The participation of civil society and academics reflects a democratic opening in Brazil,” he declared. Mr. Kaufmann lauded the dynamism of the workshops and panels, which focused more on discussion than long speeches.

The Executive Director of Transparency Brazil, Claudio Abramo, said that the IV Global Forum on Fighting Corruption succeeded “with great competence” in gathering representatives of civil society for the first time. Mr. Abramo also underscored that the Forum addressed issues not considered in previous editions, such as corruption measurement and the limits of NGO oversight of the State.

The representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Reiner Pungs, also qualified the inclusion of civil society in the discussions as an excellent initiative. He went on to add that the Forum is an important platform for countries to learn more about the experiences of other countries. “I am certain that some of the measures adopted by Brazil will be adopted by other countries,” he concluded

Source: IV Global Forum to Fight Corruption, Brazil, June 7-10, 2005

Moroccans fight ‘crime against humanity’

Moroccans fight 'crime against humanity'
By Abderrahim El Ouali

Discover how a citizens group took action to demand the creation of a "national independent authority for truth and recovering misappropriated public funds." Please read the article by clicking on the link above. This is the type of citizens action that is required to face up to the corrupt officials in developing countries. Bravo to the Moroccans for being a very good example.

Africans among worst in 'corruption league'

Here is some more bad news regarding corruption and the African Continent. The article is entitled - Africans among worst in 'corruption league'.

Corruption 'costs Africa billions'

Here is another shocker, (maybe it is not to most of us) ...Corruption in Africa is costing the continent nearly $150bn a year, according to a new report. Please click the link above and read on....

Kenya corruption review 'blocked'

An African Union watchdog set up to monitor good governance says it has stopped work in Kenya after the government barred it from its offices.

The fact of the matter is: The African Peer Review Mechanism ( APRM) was set up by the African Union last year as a mechanism to monitor each other's progress towards political and economic reform.

Kenyan papers stung by corruption claims

Let the government be told who among its cabinet ministers and civil servants are corrupt and the figures involved. If credible, the culprits will immediately be sacked.
First Lady Lucy Kibaki in East African Standard

That is quiet a statement, but not from the president but, the first lady of Kenya. (Kebede)

Kenyan courts grind to halt

I had planned to post a video linkage for tonight. But the linkage did not work, I am trying to find a way to do that. Until then, here is another one from Kenya.